Family members’ swabs from Barhabise woman collected

As a new mother reportedly died of coronavirus in Dhulikhel Hospital, the swabs of her new born, husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law were collected this afternoon and they are kept under hospital quarantine until test for coronavirus is received.

The 29-year-old woman from Barhabise of Sindhupalchowk died after some time she was reached to Dhulikhel Hospital at 9:30 pm on Thursday. The family members had taken to her hospital on suspicion of COVID-19 after she developed symptoms of coronavirus including difficulties in breathing.

Hospital’s spokesperson Dr Sumanraj Tamrakar said that the swabs of the deceased were sent to the National Public Health Laboratory on Friday itself for further tests. Dr Tamrakar said that RDT test of the woman was conducted in Barhabise Hospital and PCR Test was conducted at Dhulikhel Hospital on Friday and she tested positive for coronavirus infection.

However, the Ministry of Health and Population on Saturday said that it is not yet confirmed whether the woman died of coronavirus because additional details of the deceased woman’s are being collected. According to Dhulikhel Hospital, the health condition of the woman was very serious when she was brought to the hospital at 9:30 pm on Thursday and she developed no progress despite being put in a ventilator.

Dhulikhel Hospital’s doctors, nurses and paramedical involved in the treatment process of the woman have been kept under quarantine after collecting their swabs. High surveillance has been maintained in the hospital from Friday after the woman tested positive for coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the village home of the woman has been sealed. A meeting of the District Security Committee held Saturday decided to seal Barhabise Municipality-9 and Wards No. 8 and 9 of Balephi Rural Municipality. Balephi-8 is the woman’s maternal home.

Personnel of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepal Army have been assigned for the security management of the area. Likewise, Barhabise Primary Health Centre is also sealed as the woman had visited there for the treatment.